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is important to providing a voice for those who may not have one or have the ability to use it. Students in the younger grades may have not yet learned to speak up for themselves in a productive way. So as their teacher, it is my job to advocate for my kids and have their best interest in mind. In Oklahoma, teachers have staged a walk-out that has moved into its 3rd week. The teachers are fighting for better salary as well as funding to buy new supplies for the classroom and the school in general. Several of the teachers have posted photos of the state their supplies are in. One photo depicted a chair that is severely cracked and looks like it would not stand the weight of any student. Materials in such poor conditions have a massive effect on students ability to focus on the lessons. As teachers, we have to stand up for our students to make sure they are receiving the best education possible and it starts with the supplies. How One Elementary School Sparked a Citywide Movement to Make Black Students' Lives Matter explains a schools response to the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The SEE provided 3 points that they want to see change in the school system.

1. Support ethnic studies in all schools.

2. Replace zero-tolerance discipline with restorative justice practices.

3. De-track classes within the schools to undo the racial segregation that is reinforced by tracking.

The overarching goal is for schools to recognize the difference students have and to embrace them as positive. I want all my students to feel important and confident that I will fight for their success.

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And by some accounts, Monday's crowd was the biggest yet.

Hundreds of schools closed Monday as teachers demanded $150 million more to replace dilapidated, decades-old textbooks and fund elective courses. They also want higher raises for support staff and themselves.

Some teachers walked 15 miles Monday to get to Oklahoma City.

They bring the support and advice of West Virginia teachers, whose nine-day strike last month led to a 5% pay raise.

"When talking to West Virginia teachers, they told me the most important day of the walkout was the 2nd Monday," posted Alberto Morejon, the organizer of the "Oklahoma Teacher Walkout - The Time is Now!" Facebook group.

Millions of dollars granted, millions more wanted

The teachers' massive protest has already yielded some action by legislators.

Shortly before the April 2 walkout, Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill that provided $50 million in funding for schools, increased teachers' salaries and gave pay raises to support staff. But the package wasn't nearly as much as educators demanded, so major school districts shuttered and the walkout ensued.

Now, two pieces of legislation could soon become law, getting a few steps closer to what teachers say they need:

1. The state Senate approved a bill amendment Friday that would require third-party retailers selling through outlets such as Amazon to collect sales tax from customers or inform them how much they owe in sales taxes. (The House approved the measure earlier in the week.) That bill could bring in about $20 million annually in education funding, but teachers say schools need a total of $200 million over three years.

2. The Senate on Friday approved a "ball and dice" tax for gambling. While Senate leaders said it will not add any income to this year's education funding, the Oklahoma Education Association said it would help in the long run.

But the OEA was livid about another Senate move: the repeal of a hotel and motel tax that it said would be paid by mostly nonresidents and would add millions in revenue.

The Senate followed the House's lead and repealed the tax as part of Bill 1010XX, thereby chopping $43 million from the education funding bill. Senators say they can make up that shortage through other revenue in the bill.

What will it take for this to end?

While thousands of students remain out of school indefinitely, OEA President Alicia Priest made clear what she thinks lawmakers must do to end the teacher walkout.

She said Fallin must veto the Legislature's repeal of the hotel-motel tax, and the Legislature must pass a bill ending the state's capital gains tax deduction.

Until then, don't expect teachers to end the walkout.

"I think it will continue ... until they see the fully funded education bills that need to be passed," said Kingsgate Elementary Principal Karie Hill, one of many administrators who joined teachers at the Capitol.

Kentucky teachers are furious, too

The Oklahoma protesters join teachers from Kentucky, Arizona and other states who have been fighting for more pay, better education funding and improved working conditions.

In Kentucky, teachers also protested the passage of a pension bill, which they called a " bait-and-switch" move.

That bill, which would affect new teachers, is at Gov. Matt Bevin's desk. Supporters of the bill said the changes are necessary to save the state's pension systems.

While Kentucky teachers were protesting the pension overhaul last week, the state Legislature passed changes to the tax system called House Bill 366.

An analysis of that bill by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found it would bring a huge tax cut for the richest 1% of residents, while the biggest tax increase would affect those making less than $21,000 a year. A fellow with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy described it as "a tax cut for Kentucky's richest people paired with a tax increase for the middle class and the poor."

Bevin has until legislators return to session April 13 to sign the bill.

Until then, the Kentucky Educators Association has urged its members to return to their classrooms.

"Our students need us to show up for them in classrooms and schools," the group posted on Facebook over the weekend. "We urge educators statewide not to allow our united efforts to be compromised by continued calls for action that deprive students, parents and communities of the educational services we provide."

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oklahoma teachers' walkout gains momentum in its 2nd week - cnn

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Oklahoma teachers' walkout gains momentum in its 2nd week

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And by some accounts, Monday's crowd was the biggest yet. Hundreds of schools closed Monday as teachers demanded $150 million more to replace dilapidated, decades-old textbooks and fund elective courses. They also want higher raises for support staff and themselves. Some teachers walked 15 miles Monday to get to Oklahoma City.

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necessary for a successful classroom. Students should be able to collaborate with their peers as well as the instructor. Creating a cohesive classroom will ensure that the students feel comfortable and that they also feel like the classroom belongs to them. Chapter 4 of For White Who Teach in the Hood... describes students who work together on a rap cypher. The students encouraged each other and took turn with each part of the rap. Using this kind of collaboration in the classroom can be beneficial because it is common knowledge that the students will be able to pull from. They can learn to take turns and share responsibility while also celebrating each other. In Trayvon Martin and My Students, the class collaborated on discussing a heated topic. The class spent an extensive amount of time looking into different sources and annotating a speech given by President Obama. The class learned to work together towards a common goal. Collaboration can be a way for students to discover ideas and solutions to big conversations happening both in the community and society as a whole. Students are able to share their ideas and learn new ones in a safe environment where everyone supports each other.

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extremely important to the my classroom and each student. Communities and families shape a person's thoughts, feelings, and opinions. Chapter 2 of For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood.. describes how a community can have a large effect on the emotions of a student. Students living in urban areas have to live through some very scary and stressful situations. As an educator, I must learn about the home lives of each of my students so I can better understand how to help them emotionally while they are at school and also any resources or other help I can provide for them when they return home. Family can mean different things to each student. Some students have a two parent home while others have a single parent. Some students may not live with any parents. Some have one or two siblings and others could have five or six. It is important to understand my students' home lives because it will have an impact on how I interact with their guardians regarding their school experience.

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6 I believe my students learn best when I...

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6 I believe my students learn best when I...

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understand their needs and fit my teaching in order to benefit everyone in the class. Each students has individual personalities, thoughts, and learning styles. As their teacher, it is my job to make sure each student is getting out of class what they should. When I provide a class library that is representative of all races, genders, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses, my students will be able to read books that they can directly relate to. In Ques es deportar, the student were having to read Spanish books that were poorly translated from English. By including these  books, students are not getting the best exposure to books written in Spanish. When I am invested in the classroom community, my students will feel loved by me and their peers. I want all my students to believe in my ability to advocate for them. Schooling and societal systems not benefit all people. Restorative Justice seeks to throw out the zero tolerance and looks to better understand the students themselves. I want to know my students on a personal level and understand their backgrounds and family.

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6 I believe students learn best when they…

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6 I believe students learn best when they…

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are provided with adequate materials and an enriching learning environment. In Que es deportar, the author explains that she decided to include authentic Spanish texts in the classroom because the books translated from English were not working for her students. Kids need to be reading material that is real and relatable to them. This is the best way to pull meaning from the texts. Students also need to be encouraged throughout their schooling process. Chapter 2 discusses the social goals of schooling. Students need to learn how to function with peers, elders, and also people younger than them and this happens during school. Students learn best when they are encouraged by their teachers and feel like they have a fighting chance to succeed. Students need to feel comfortable and safe in their learning environment. The school to prison pipeline harms African American students by introducing the tension with law enforcement and rules. When people of color don't feel comfortable being themselves, they will not perform as well.When they don't feel like they have the support from their school or teachers, people of color might not feel the need to push themselves and excel in school.

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worthy of the best education that I can offer them. Students are only able to use what they are given, which goes for both knowledge and resources. All students are deserving of the best education possible despite their economic situation, community, or family issues.  Students could be dealing with any number of issues at home that can affect their schooling experience. In Race: Some Teachable and Uncomfortable Moments, some of the students in class wanted to express their experience as African Americans. In my classroom, students should be able to share their thoughts and experiences in class because it is important for building classroom community and gaining new perspective.I want to be able to assess and attend to my students needs without the judgments from past teachers and standardized test scores. Chapter 3 discusses the tracking system and how it can negatively impact "lower achieving" students by marking them as less capable.

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4 I believe the purpose of schooling is...

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4 I believe the purpose of schooling is...

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to create a space where students feel encouraged, loved, safe, and inspired. School is a place that students learn who they are while gaining the tools they need to become a well-educated, productive member of society. School is not the place where students should fear for their safety and well being.  According to Stop the School to Prison Pipeline, many African American students have their first experience with law enforcement during their schooling career. The zero tolerance policy does take into account the unique circumstance of every issue that arises. Accidents can happen and each situation should be dealt with on a case by case basis. Each student should be cared for enough to have the school system stand up for him/her. In school, teachers and administrators should be doing their best to help students in any way possible. This includes providing a curriculum that is suitable for teaching about all cultures and working with students who are bilingual. The article Ques es deportar explains that high quality literature in Spanish is hard to find. Bilingual students deserve to read and learn about and in their home language. Reading these materials will only improve their English, but also their overall school experience.

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should be formed to benefit all students. It is my job to make sure that I am doing all that I can to understand the different perspectives, experiences, and abilities of all my students. In order to provide the best opportunities for my students, it is important for students to be represented in the curriculum. According to Que es deportar, texts in Spanish are very difficult to come by. And more importantly, texts that are of good quality. The article also said that multiples of a text are not easy to find. The same is also true of African American texts. Teaching curriculum that is inclusive and true to a variety of cultures should be a focus. My job as a teacher will be to create fair opportunities and equal judgement for all students. Chapter 3 of American Education notes the inequalities of different schools and communities. As a teacher, I should be doing by best to combat the systemic inequalities that many students face. As an educator, I believe my job is more than teaching students to pass a standardized test. Test scores do not equate the intellect of a student. Many factors are involved when it comes to the test scores, such as cultural background and socioeconomic status, as explained in the High-Stakes Testing Model.

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is an opportunity to better ourselves. Knowledge is power and something that can't be taken away. Learning styles are different for everyone and everyone should have a say in their learning experience. Learning should not be restricted to being able to pass a standardized test. Learning should be for the purpose of bettering individuals to create a more cohesive and productive society. Attending a school that is located in a poor community or has been deemed a low grade school should not affect the education that students receive. Students can only learn so much with what they are given. Poor schools do not have the funding and resources to compete with schools who receive buckets of money and consistently report high test scores. Learning should be something that both teachers and students should look forward to everyday.

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I believe my responsibilities as a teacher are to create a safe, inspiring, and fun environment. All of these things will give my students some of the tools they need to be successful in their school career, as well as their personal lives. As an educator, I want to do more than simply provide information that my students can only use to take a test. I need to be able to recognize the specific needs of each of my students so that I can best aid them in having equal opportunities.